They say marriage is about trust, but what happens when that trust is tested by someone from your partner’s past? Today’s story comes from a reader who thought she was in a healthy marriage — until her husband’s “friendly” relationship with his ex started crossing the line.
Her letter:
Dear Team!
When I married my husband, I knew about his ex-wife, Sarah. No kids, no house — just history. I was fine with it…
until the favors started. First, it was “Can you fix my Wi-Fi?” or “My car won’t start.” Then came rides to the airport and apartment lease checks. He always said yes.
I told him it made me uncomfortable. He brushed it off — “She doesn’t have anyone else.” I let it go until she called during our anniversary dinner about a leaking sink — and he left. I sat there alone with his half-eaten steak.
When my ex texted about a charity event, I agreed to help and mentioned it casually at dinner. His jaw clenched. A few days later, I said I’d meet my ex for coffee.
“You’re not seriously going?” he asked. “Why not?” I replied. “He just needs a friend.”
That was the first time I saw realization hit. That night, he went quiet.
The next morning, he showed the message he sent Sarah: “I can’t keep fixing everything for you.”
He didn’t love my method, but he got the point — sometimes, the only way to teach boundaries is to make someone live without them. M. 💌 Thank you note
Thank you to our reader for sharing this brave story — situations like this are more common than people admit, and they remind us how blurred emotional boundaries can quietly erode a relationship.
Why People Stay Friends With Their Ex.
It’s completely to feel uneasy when your partner stays close to their ex. Doubts creep in — Why are they still talking?, What’s their connection now?, Could old feelings come back? These questions aren’t about jealousy — they’re about safety and trust. Often, people struggle to believe that an ex can just be a “friend,” especially when that friendship wasn’t there before the relationship began.
Even if both people claim it’s platonic, emotional memories don’t disappear overnight — they linger. Sometimes, staying in touch with an ex isn’t about love at all. It’s about comfort.
The story doesn’t end here –
it continues on the next page.
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